Up to date, the company has steered clear of livestreaming,
but a report by entertainment website Deadline said Netflix is looking into the
idea of deploying the capability for a “swathe of unscripted shows and stand-up
specials.”
Netflix confirmed to Deadline that the plan is being
overseen by a “small group” of personnel and is currently in the “early stages
of development.” The report gave no specific dates for when the first
livestreamed content might appear on the platform.
It’s suggested that the company could livestream events such
as Netflix Is a Joke: The Festival, featuring a raft of stand-up comics. But
that won’t happen this year as the company recently wrapped up filming for the
latest festival, which will stream from May 19 through June 23 and feature sets
from the likes of Bill Burr and Amy Schumer.
If Netflix moves ahead with the plan, livestreamed stand-up
shows might air with a few seconds’ delay in case parts of a set were deemed
inappropriate for general viewing.
Competition-based shows such as the upcoming Dance 100 could
also be ripe for livestreaming, and pave the way for live voting rounds to find
a winner.
Netflix’s growing interest in livestreaming comes as the
company looks for ways to entice new sign-ups and retain existing subscribers
in the face of growing competition from other streaming platforms such as
Disney+, Apple TV+, and HBO Max.
However, it appears Netflix isn’t yet ready to consider
livestreaming sports events.
Responding to a question on the matter during the company’s
latest earnings call last month, Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos said: “I’m not
saying we never would do sports, but we would have to see a path to growing a
big revenue stream and a big profit stream with it.”
In another change aimed at bolstering its service, Netflix
is preparing to launch a tier that includes ads — possibly before the end of
this year — that will offer customers a low-priced subscription option.